Aqualate Golf Club tees off with smart water butts in green innovation drive

Aqualate Golf Club tees off with smart water butts in green innovation drive

Aqualate Golf Club, near Newport, has taken a major step towards environmental sustainability by installing smart water butts on its grounds, supported by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR).

This initiative marks a significant milestone in the club's commitment to greener operations and climate resilience. The six industrial scale tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 litres, are equipped with advanced wireless technology that enables intelligent water management.

These smart systems collect rainwater from the clubhouse and maintenance buildings, storing it for use in irrigation and course maintenance. The tanks are also programmed to release water in a controlled manner ahead of forecasted heavy rainfall, creating additional capacity and helping to reduce localised flood risk.

Matt Smith, programme manager for RSPAWIR, said:-

"This RSPAWIR supported installation at Aqualate demonstrates how smart water infrastructure can benefit not just urban and agricultural settings, but also recreational spaces like golf courses where the availability of water is critical to the business.

"Integrating predictive weather models with wireless-enabled tanks, helps enterprises such as Aqualate manage water more efficiently and contribute to wider flood mitigation efforts."

By harvesting rainwater, the club is also able to reduce its reliance on mains water, cut operational costs, and supports biodiversity by maintaining healthy turf without over-extraction from local water sources. The system also helps prevent stormwater runoff, which can carry pollutants into nearby watercourses.

This initiative is part of the club's broader 'Green Tee' strategy-a commitment to sustainable course management that includes reducing chemical inputs, enhancing wildlife habitats, and engaging members in environmental stewardship.

Dan Groom, Aqualate golf manager, added:-

"Our Green Tee strategy is all about managing the course in a way that benefits both golfers and the natural landscape. The smart water butts enable us to harvest and use rainwater more sustainably while contributing to local flood resilience. It's exactly the kind of forward-thinking solution we want to champion at Aqualate."

Neil Sewell of SDS Infrastructure, who supplied the butts, said:-

"Capturing and reusing rainwater for irrigation is a perfect example of what we should be doing to both conserve water and reduce flooding.

"If this type of installation were to be deployed at scale, it would profoundly reduce both potable water consumption and the stormwater contribution to flooding."

The RSPAWIR programme, managed by Shropshire Council and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is one of 10 UK Innovation Regions. It focuses on accelerating the adoption of wireless-enabled technologies across water management, agri-tech, and public sector services within the River Severn catchment.